Steam-generator feed apparatus and appertaining mechanism.



T. F. BUDGE.

STEAM GENERATOR FEED APPARATUS ANDAPPERTAINING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4- 1912.

Patented July 27, 1915.

MAW

JNVENTOR WITNESSES pnrrii srarissj PATENT OFFICE THOMAS F. BUDGE, OF MAL AD CITY, IDAHO.

STEAM-GENERATOR FEED APPARATUS AND APPERTAINING MECHANISM.

Application filed October 4., 1912.

To all whom it mayconcern Be it known that I, THOMAS F. BUDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malad City, in the county of Oneida and State of Idaho, have invented new and useful Improvements in Steam-Generator Feed Apparatus and Appertaining Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to steam generator, feed apparatus and appertaining mechanism, in which the action of the condensation of steam is utilized to feed volatile liquid to a steam generator boiler.

The principal objects of my invention are to provide an apparatus of the character described which may be operated on low steam pressure and one which, after having been set into operation, is practically automatic in its working to maintain a Water level within a predeterminedzone of the generator boiler; to provide mechanism which will permit of utilizing the water resulting from the condensation ofsteam in radiators; and, also in general, to provide apparatus which is simple in construction, eiflcient inaction, and easy to install in connection with existing apparatus. o

\ A further object of my invention is to provide apparatus, such that the liquid fed to the generator is heated prior to its entering the same, therebyavoiding the rapid contraction of metallic parts adjacent the inlet of'the boiler.

Other objects of my inventionwill appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying draw ing, which shows diagrammatically the apparatus as applied to a fire-tube boiler and in connection with radiators heated by steam generated therein. The boiler, which may be of any suitable type, is designated by 1, andthe high and low water lines thereof by 2 and 8, respectively. Preferably in close proximity to the boiler 1 is provided a chamber 4 above the high water line 2, and having a drain valve 5, a liquid conduit 6 adjacent its lowermost portion, and an intakeconduit' 7 for steam open adjacent its upper. portion. The conduit 6 opens tothe boiler lat any suitable place, below the low water line 3, and has a check valve 8 disposed therein, preventing back flow'of liquid fromthe boiler. A control valve 9 is also provided in conduit 6 for a purpose to be subsequently described. The chamber 4: contains a way 10. for conducting Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 723,940.

fluid in a predetermined path through Patented July 27, 1915."

the source of liquid supply. This intake conduit 12 may be provided with a valve 13-. if it is desired to conduct water to wayv 10 through some other conduit. It is to be noted that the check valve 11 not only pre vents escape of fluid from the chamber 4, but also prevents back flow of fluid in the way 10 which might otherwise occur, as by siphoning, because of the column of water in conduitl2. This check valve seals the end of ways 10 remote from the conduit 12,

and hence there could be no siphoning action. 46

The steam intake conduit 7 of chamberA: is provided with valve mechanism designated generally by 14, having communicae tion with boiler 1 by ways 15 and 16 adja-, cent, respectively, the high and low water lines. This valve mechanism is adapted to permit of ingress of steam at the chambert when the water in the boiler has a low level, 1;

and to shut off the chamber 4 from commu nication with the boiler, through conduit 7, when the water has attained to high level. This may be accomplished by providing float valve 17 in a chamber 18, the float 19 of valve17 being so disposed relative to ways 15and '16 that it closes the conduit 7 when liquid flows into the chamber 18 through way. 15, but permits the valve to drop by gravity when the water level is at way 16; a

checkvalve 20 being provided in way 16 to permit of ingress of water from chamber 18 to the boiler, to accommodate the float valve. It isvto be understood that way 15 branches into stems 21 and 22, the former leading to the upper part of chamber 18 above float 19, and the latter to said chambenbelow said float. The conduit 7' has a valve 28, the purpose of Which will be disclosed in connec-.

This may be accomplished by providinga reservoir 25 to which the radiator outlet pipes 26 deliver liquid periodically, or, in

other words, whenever steam condenses in the radiator to such an extent that there is a flow of liquid in pipes 26. The reservoir 25 is disposed at a plane lower than the chamber 4, and a conduit 27, controlled by valve 28 may open into reservoir 25 adjacent its bottom to communicate with way 10. I may also find it desirable to provide a conduit 29, controlled by valve 30, communicating with way 10 and having its intake end, adjacent the bottom of reservoir 25, controlled by a valve 31, which is opened or closed by the raise or fall of the liquid level in the said receptacle as by float 32.- The main for supplying steam to the radiators 24 is designated by 33 and may be controlled by a valve 34.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: Assuming that some steam pressure has been generated in the boiler 1, valve 9 is closed and valves 23 and 5 are opened. It will also be assumed that the water in the boiler 1 is approximately at low level or suificiently low to permit steam to enter through 21 so as to flow into the steam chamber 4. lVhen air has been forced out of chamber 4 by steam entering through conduit 7, this will be indicated to the operator by egress through valve 5 and the latter may be closed. Valve 23 will also be closed and the steam in chamber 4 will be permitted to condense thereby forming a vacuum in the chamber 4 to open valve 11 and induce a flow into the coil 10 through pipe 27, valve 28 having been opened and valve 13 closed. If the suction generated by one condensation of steam in the chamber 4 is not suflicient to expel the air originally in pipe 27 and also induce a flow of water into the coil 10 and therefrom into the chamber 4, then the foregoing operation can be repeated until a flow of water has been induced. After the device has been started,

and the chamber 4 has been substantially filled with water, valves 23 and 9 will be opened so as to equalize pressure in conduits 6 and 7 thereby permitting the Water in chamber 4 to flow by gravity into the boiler. This will cause flap valve 11 to close and the presumably cold'water in the coil 10 will be heated by steam which now fills the chamber 4 as the water flows out therefrom. The filling of the chamber 4 by steam will serve to warm the water in coil 10 and as the level rises in the boiler from 3 to 2 it will cause water entering the chamber 18 to elevate float 19 and cause valve 17 to shut 011 further passage of steam through conduit 7 Y into chamber 4. The steam already in chamber 4 will then condense and vacuum will be initiated to again fill chamber 4 with water from the coil 10, which has been previously warmed. Now as the vaporation proceeds in the boiler, the level will fall from 2 to 3 and steam will again enter through conduit 7 by reason of the fall of water causing valve 9 to descend by gravity into an opening position. Opening of valve 17 again equalizes pressure in conduits 6 and 7 and the water in chamber 4 again flows by gravity into the boiler thereby making the operation continuous after the device is once started.

It will be understood that conduit 12 communicates with a constant supply of water such as a water main and the boiler may be originally filled by opening valve 13 and closing valve 28 and 30. This operation itself would in most cases eliminate original air in coil 10, but for possible leakage in the system. After the boiler had been originally filled, valve 13 would be closed and would remain closed. Valve 30 would then be opened so as to supply any deficiency in reservoir 25 and always insure a level therein. A supply of water to reservoir 25 will be periodically delivered by condensation in the radiators 24 but it will be understood that at times this would not be suflicient to supply the boiler and therefore pipe 29, having its discharge therefrom into the reservoir 25 controlled by the valve 31 and float 32, will supply any deficiency so as to always maintain a level in reservoir 25 above the mouth of pipe 27. Thus in working adjustment, after initially filling the boiler, the supply to coil 10 and chamber 4 will always be delivered through pipe 27.

It is to be understood that the apparatus for supplying water to the boiler is applicable to any type of steam generator, regardless as to whether it is used in a heating plant, and that changes may be made in details without departing from the spirit or scope of my invention; but,

I claim 1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a boiler, of a chamber having a way for conducting fluid her from a lower lever than the same, means for preventing back flow of fluid in the said way of said chamber, means for conducting steam to said chamber, and valve mechanism for permitting passage of steam through said last mentioned means when the water in said boiler has a low level, but stopping said delivery when the same has attained a high level, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a boiler, of a chamber having a way for conducting fluid in a predetermined path therethrough and adapted to deliver liquid by gravity from said chamber to said boiler, a conduit for conducting fluid to said way of said chamber from a lower level than the same, means for preventing back flow of fluid in the said way of said chamber, valve means for permitting escape of fluid from said chamber to the atmosphere, means for conducting steam to said chamber, and valve mechanism for permitting passage of steam through said last mentioned means when the water in said boiler has a low level, but stopping said delivery when the same has attained a high level, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a boiler, of a chamber having a way for conducting fluid in a predetermined path therethrough and adapted to deliver liquid by gravity from said chamber to said boiler, a valve for controlling flow of liquid from said chamber to said boiler, a conduit for conducting fluid to i said way of said chamber from a lower level than the same, means for preventing back flow of fluid in the said way of said chamber, means for conducting steam to said chamber, and valve mechanism for permitting passage of steam through said last mentioned means when the water in said boiler has a low level, but stopping said delivery when the same has attained a high level, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination with a boiler, of a chamber having a way for conducting fluid in a predetermined path therethrough and adapted to deliver liquid by gravity from said chamber to said boiler, a conduit for conducting fluid to said way of the said chamber from a lower level than the same, means preventing back flow of fluid in the said way of said chamber, means for permitting escape of fluid from said chamber to the atmosphere, means for conducting steam to said chamber, valve mechanism for per-e mitting passage of steam through said last mentioned means when the water in said boiler has a low level but stopping such delivery when the same has attained a high level, and means for controlling passage of steam through said conducting means of said chamber independently of said valve mechanism, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

THOMAS F. BUDGE. Witnesses:

R. B. DAvIs, M. T. SLATTER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatcnts, Washington, D. G. 

